Tag Archives: clarinet

A recent swing through Istanbul airport gave the chance to browse the book/music stores, which in most modern airports is a soulless undertaking. Happily not so in Turkey’s bustling jetdrome. The shelves were heavy with all sorts of books in Turkish, English and several European languages. And the music selection was not a single naughty stand off in the corner somewhere. In addition to a few current global pop chart toppers (don’t ask me for names please, I couldn’t tell you any) there was a luxurious section of Turkish CDs of many stripes: classical, folk, gypsy, jazz, fusion, rock and vintage garage psych pop. Mixed in this selection like lumpy raisins in a fresh roll, were Greek, North African, Arabic and Jewish CDs.

I had an armful ready to go until I noticed the prices…in Euro! Gulp. They love music in Turkey that’s for sure, but airports are rip offs everywhere! A difficult self-talk session followed before a more painful culling exercise left me with but a few items. Today begins a short mini-series of Turkish music which I hope you will enjoy.

Husnu

First up, is the clarinet of Hüsnü Şenlendirici. It’s been on auto repeat for three days now…and I love it more each day. Part bellydance sway, part mournful funeral band, part jazz, part swirling Turkish camp!

Hüsnü Şenlendirici was born in Bergama in 1976. He started playing clarinet at the age of five. He learned and experienced Aegean and Anatolian culture in his childhood. In 1990, he entered the Turkish Music State Conservatory at Istanbul Technical University, but discontinued. He began working beside percussionist Oktay Temiz, and participated in various festivals with the group “Magnetic Band”. Şenlendirici also joined his father and clarinetist Ergun Şenlendirici’s group “Laço”, and attended many important music festivals. Hüsnü has performed with various Turkish and foreign musicians, and has played not only Turkish music, but also Turkish pop and jazz music. In 1996, Şenlendirici founded “Laço Tayfa”, and released the album “In the Buzbag” with the Brooklyn Funk Essentials. He has given many concerts in Turkey and abroad as a soloist or a member of the group “Laço Tayfa”. In 2000, he released his first solo album “Bergama Gaydası” (Doublemoon and Traditional Crossroads). Within the project “Anadolu Güneşi”, which was organized by the Turkish Ministry of Culture and Tourism and the Office of the Turkish Prime Ministry Publicity Fund in 2002, he accompanied the artists Kubat and Belkıs Akkale with a symphonic orchestra at the Lütfi Kırdar Congress and Exhibition Center. Şenlendirici has also performed for various TV dramas, films and commercial music.(http://www.turkishculture.org/whoiswho/husnu-senlendirici-2185.htm)

Solo clarinet. Bare bones music not too far away from some style of jazz in sensibility.

The clarinet is an instrument I’ve taken some time to warm too. Always loved the honey enwrapped sounds of Mozart’s Concerto for Clarinet but there the sweetness was supported and enveloped in stirring gentle strings.

All too often, however, the clarinet sound has struck me as too brittle and erratic. Perhaps it was my friends in school who struggled with the instrument, to make it sing rather than squeak and squawk.

Today’s post is a recording I could not have warmed to even several years ago. But that I am sharing it is proof that even old men can learn and change.

Evgeni Orkin is a German citizen of Ukrainian origin. Born only in 1977 he has become one of the leading exponents of modern classical composition, the saxophone and, the clarinet. With several symphonies and other major compositions to his credit he is a regular feature on the Continental music scene.

As the year winds down to its inevitable end there is something about this pristine music that both quiets and excites the soul.